APEC Stories: Sweet delivery of Chilean cherries to China

Editor's note: The 2025 Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) Economic Leaders' Meeting will be held in Gyeongju, South Korea, from October 31 to November 1. CGTN's "APEC Stories" series will showcase cooperation and culture of 21 APEC economies through visual storytelling.

Shipping from across the Pacific, Chilean cherries have become a favorite among Chinese consumers. In the first four months of this year, China imported cherries worth 17.54 billion yuan (about $2.47 billion) from Chile, accounting for 16.2 percent of China's total imports from the South American nation during the period, according to data from the General Administration of Customs.

The two countries have also been actively promoting a favorable trade environment. Chile's cherries were granted zero-tariff market access to the Chinese market in 2017. Enhanced logistics, including dedicated "Cherry Express" shipping routes, now ensure the fruit reaches Chinese markets in peak freshness. Cooperation between Chilean suppliers and Chinese e-commerce platforms has significantly boosted competitiveness of Chilean cherries in China.

As the first Latin American country to sign a bilateral agreement with China, Chile's sweet cherries are also a testament to the close cooperative relationship between the two nations.

(Photos via VCG)